How To Start an Art And Craft Business
How to Become An Established Artist
The term “art” is an umbrella term for anything and everything considered valuable and meaningful. Any piece can be an art, ranging from paintings, sculptures to digital imaging.
Becoming an established artist takes time and discipline. Being an artist is never easy. Only a very few percentages of the artists become famous world over and make lots of money. Still, that doesn’t mean you should give up on your dream just because there are others with similar skill sets and ideas.
Be Prepared To Burn The Midnight Oil
One of the traits of successful artists is that they constantly think about art and are in the process of steady creation of arts. Art is the crux of their lives. They live art, they breathe art.
Find Your Niche
Finding your forte and niche is the most important thing if you want to venture into a successful art business. No matter how talented you may be and no matter how wonderful your art may be–if it does not appeal to the consumer, you probably won’t be able to sell it. This is why you need to find a unique, niche creation that is not offered by others–something that will make you stand out; something that is your own.
Experiment With Techniques
Experiment with techniques and a lot of medium and find out what you like best. This could mean focusing on painting, building models out of clay, or making 3D designs if you are a graphic artist. The trickiest part of starting a business isn’t selling art– it is understanding the basic rules of business that apply to an independent venture. The goal of any business is ultimately to make a profit. In order to do that, you will need to know how to price your art competitively without undermining your skills, deal with accounts, identify a tangible income model, and keep an inventory, amongst other things.
Business Acumen Matter
A lot. You may be an accomplished artist, but if you don’t know how to go about selling and advertising your stuff, nobody is going to know you. But this doesn’t mean you should put your creative hat on the hat stand while you go back to business school and get a degree in finance. It just means that you should read books on marketing, selling, finance, and how to better manage your business, take introductory classes and attend seminars and conferences aimed especially at startups, and talk to people who have already created a thriving independent business for themselves. Do these things before you launch your business.
